Endocrine Abstracts

We have reported that serum DHEAS increases in growth hormone deficient (GHD) adults with intact ACTH reserve during GH replacement (GHR) in contrast with persisting low levels in ACTH-deficient GHD patients (Isidori et al. Clin Endo 2003:58:601). This was associated with a lower GH dose requirement in ACTH sufficient patients suggesting that DHEA may augment IGF-I generation. We have examined this hypothesis in a double blind placebo controlled trial of 30 hypopituitary femal...

Pituitary patients with different aetiologies of hypopituitarism exhibit differing phenotypes despite optimal replacement therapy. We hypothesised that differential regulation of the isoenzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), which mediates the autocrine conversion of cortisone to cortisol in adipose tissues and liver may play a role.We prospectively studied 11β-HSD1 activity through analysis of 24 h urine cortisol/cortisone ...

Continuation of GH at final height in hypopituitary adolescents with severe GH-deficiency results in accrual of bone mass over 12 months. We report body composition and BMD in 7 of these patients who discontinued GH but continued to have observations over 24 months. Five males and 2 females were included (17.4plus/minus0.3, years, meanplus/minusSE), in this Ethics Commitee approved study. All had severe GH-deficiency with multiple pituitary hormone deficits on appropriate repl...